


American 


Dramatists Series 

in ti)e Palante 


jf. Sfamcg 




Class _^:x2^f 



caiEmiGKr depossj. 



American Dramatists Series 

WEIGHED IN 
THE BALANCE 

A Drama in Four Acts 
BY 

MAY F. JAMES 




BOSTON: THE GORHAM PRESS 

TORONTO: THE COPP CLARK CO., LIMITED 



Copyright, 1916, by May F. James 



All Rights, including those of translation, Reserved 






JAN -5 1917 



Printed in the United States of America 



The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A. 



'CID 45837 



TO 

H.R.M. ALBERT 

KING OF THE BELGIANS 
AND mS HEROIC PEOPLE 



PUBLISHER'S NOTE 

The following play is made more remarkable 
by the fact that it was written early in 191 5 
and therefore possesses a prophetic character. 



WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 



CHARACTERS 

Peace, 

War, the Devil disguised with a long dark cloak 
which covers his costume. 

Frankinstein, the Military Spirit of the German 
Nation. A Woman as the New Germany 
takes his place when he is banished. 

Bellona^ Belgium. 

Florus, France. 

Albion, England. 

Rezia, Russia. 

Savias, Servia. 

Janoah, Japan. 

Italia, Italy. 

Indiana, Empire of India. 

Astra, British Australia. 

Columbia, Canada. 

JusTiciA, America. 

A Priest — ^A Woman — Two Spiritual Beings. 

Costumes: Each Character a Type of the 
Country He Represents — As Far as Possible. 



WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 

ACT I 

Scene. Open space surrounded with trees. At 
back of stage in center is small rise — rock or 
hill — on which Peace sits brooding^ gazing 
into the distance — enter War dressed as the 
Devil but a long dark cloak covers and dis- 
guises him. 

WAR 

My hands are empty and so long have I waited 
that when I do start work, it will be as Hell let 
loose in this world. 

PEACE 

{Turning towards him sadly) I would that I 
could always reign. But I see my time has not 
yet come. 

WAR 

{Decidedly) It never will come, if this mortal 
on whom I've built my hopes realizes my expecta- 
tions. 

PEACE 

{Sternly) The time will come when War shall 
cease to be, and Right and Justice will rule this 
world. Mark my words. 



12 WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 

WAR 

{Drawing nearer to Peace) Never, never shall 
that time come. I can see your reign, v^^hich has 
been already too long, end in death and disaster. 
I see you lie amid ruins — so lov^^ — your heart pierced 
with many v^^ounds and broken vt^ith the horrors 
that shall come to pass. And hovering over you, 
I see an Eagle, strong, pov^^erful and relentlessly 
cruel. 

PEACE 

{Rising and wrapping her cloak round her) Ah! 
Speak not thus. I will intervene between the Pow- 
ers — surely they will stay the sword of Death! 
Who is this mortal? Tell me his name, in whose 
hands lies the fate of this world? 

WAR 

His name is Frankinstein and he'd sell his soul 
— for Power — and through me he shall gain Power 
and immortal fame. Now, you must depart and 
leave the Field to me. 

PEACE 

{Speaking as a prophet) I see further into the 
Future than you. A nobler and a purer world, like 
a Phoenix, shall rise from the ashes of the present. 
Though you usurp my throne, I shall return and 
reign again. 

WAR 

Hark! Here he comes! {They draw hack into 
shadows of trees — enter Frankinstein.) 



ACT I 13 

FRANKINSTEIN 

Methinks the time is ripe — and yet doubts assail 
me — I would I could have waited another two 
years! To be, or not to be. That is the question 
left for me to answer. (Boldly) And I will an- 
swer it — and my answer will echo o'er a thousand 
hills. 

PEACE 

(Drawing near) I implore you to consider e'er 
it is too late. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

(Staring at her) Away! Away! I want none 
of thee. As a mask, as an outward form thou hast 
been most useful! {Bowing and smiling ironical- 
ly) Now the time has come for me to unveil and 
show to the nations my power, my strength and my 
omnipotence. Away ! 

PEACE 

Drive me not from you, for one day you will 
need me and then I shall not come. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

I want you only when I bid you come, and that 
will be through War. I shall subdue all nations 
under my feet and then you shall return and reign 
with me, the acknowledged lord of all. Until then 
— away ! 

PEACE 

Nay, I come not on those terms. No mortal man 
can do as you say — and live. 



14 WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 



FRANKINSTEIN 



God is with me. He will help me. He has al- 
ways been obedient to me and all things have gone 
well up to now. My way is clear and the star 
of my destiny shines brightly. 



PEACE 



{Very sternly) Speak not that name in your 
vain conceit. Are you not afraid of destruction? 



FRANKINSTEIN 

{Angrily) Oh, why should I waste words with 
anything so trivial and weak as thou! Away! I 
cannot do with thee now. God is on my side and 
when I need thee, thou may'st return. But now — 
{Beckoning to War, who is watching impatiently) 
'Tis thee I want. Come! 



PEACE 

{Weeping and gliding away softly) God have 
mercy, where I am too weak to help! Ah me! 
The world will suffer. My heart aches with pity. 
{Exits.) 

WAR 

{Drawing near with a smile — aside) Surely my 
time has arrived — 'tis not God, but me whom he 
needs — and I will not undeceive him. ( To Frank- 
instein) Well, Sire — at your service ? {Bows sar- 
castically.) 



ACT I 15 

FRANKINSTEIN 

Come nearer — take my commands. I want a 
great fear of me and my power to pass o'er the 
land. Hearest thou my words? 

WAR 

{Smilinff) I hear, and will obey. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

Kill, if needs must — kill, kill, destroy, annihilate 
—only through fear can I conquer. Then when I 
have subdued all, I will reward you. 

WAR 

{Aside) How many souls shall I win as reward? 
Legions, methinks! (To Frankinstein ) Your 
word is sufficient and my reward assured. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

Crush the weaker first — sow seeds of dissension 
wherever you go and discord will flourish and death 
shall reign — but I and my followers shall live to 
see the day when with might and power I shall 
rule the world ! Away ! and quickly do my bidding 
— I will follow and watch. 

WAR 
{Saluttnff) I go. {Hurries away, smiling.) 



i6 WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 



FRANKINSTEIN 

{Pacinff up and down restlessly) The Day has 
come! The Day I have prayed for and lived for — 
surely my God is with me. My own people are 
under my hand — my women have bred sons innu- 
merable for this time at my command, men who 
have grown from their birth, as the seeds sown by 
Jason — iron soldiers, strong, invincible, forming a 
great machine worked by me. And they will fight 
to the last and obey commands without thought or 
reason. I have but to set the machine working and 
nothing can stop it. Already I see the nations 
bowing to me and acknowledging me as their lord 
and master. Ah! {Smiling at the thought and 
standing still) Where, as Napoleon in my last trial 
on this earth I failed — here, as Frankinstein, I 
shall conquer and live to annihilate my enemies 
and with God's help crush the world under my feet. 
{Enter War.) 

FRANKINSTEIN 

Well — the news? 

WAR 

Sire, Bellona stands at Bay. She will not permit 
your machine to pass through her country — she talks 
of some strange virtue called "honor" — and this 
holds you back. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Impatiently) Honor! And what is that? In a 
time like this, how futile to speak of honor ! Noth- 



ACT I 17 

fng is of any consequence but Strength and Might! 
We waste our valuable time over so small an item 
• — ^Ah! Who comes here? {Enter Bellona.) 

BELLONA 

Sire, w^hat means this? {Takes out paper and 
hands it to Frankinstein) Your name is here! I 
beg you to consider before you violate your word 
and promise. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Sarcastically — taking paper and glancing at it 
carelessly) And what is this? A scrap of paper! 
And of what value? Why, 'tis naught! {Tears 
it across and casts pieces down) So much for this 
piece of paper! 

BELLONA 

{With a start of incredulous surprise) What! 
You, one of the most highly educated and advanced 
in the world! Have you no sense of honor? 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Angrily) What is honor? Mere form! A 
word, old fashioned — out of date. You are behind 
the times, Sir Galahad. I have risen above such 
small matters. {Placing his hand on his sword in 
a threatening manner) Now, see here, my machine 
has orders to roll on — should you or your people 
obstruct my right of way — it must follow that we 
crush you and them. In no wise should we be to 
blame for your stupidity. God is with us and we 



i8 WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 

must go on! Stand aside, and you will (for the 
present) be safe — get in our way — then it is utter 
annihilation. {Leaning forward persuasively) 
Come, listen to my kultured reason; forget this 
"scrap of paper" and stand aside, or, by my soul, 
you will take the consequences! 

BELLONA 

{Gazing in horror but drawing himself proudly 
and placing his hand on his sword) Never! Never! 
/ would rather lose my life than my Honor! My 
people and I will withstand you with our last 
breath! {Turns and marches away, courage and 
strength in every line of his figure — exit.) 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{With a shrug of his shoulders) As you will. 
{Turning to War) Wipe them out! Demolish 
their buildings — kill their women and children. 
They shall not live that scorn me. {Exit War) 
Why does he not fear me? What is this Honor 
that he prates of ? He shall beg mercy on his knees 
before I've finished with him. {Walks towards 
back of stage and gazes away into distance) Ah! 
They have begun! {Laughs) I have struck when 
least expected. Like the virgins with their un- 
trimmed lamps — they are not ready. I must go near- 
er — I have lived for this day — I have worked for 
this day — and now it has come and I shall surely 
reap what I have sown. {Exit) 

CURTAIN 



ACT I 19 

(Short interval) 

Curtain rises on same scene — it is almost dark — 
just a glimmer of light on the rock in center of 
stage at back — showing dim and tragic — a broken 
cross with the form of Peace bound on it — the 
light fades away, leaving darkness — there is a sound 
of sobbing. 

CURTAIN 



ACT II 

Scene. An Oriental appearing court. A SphinXj 
representing Time — Sands stretching away to 
horizon which is red with flames of destruction. 
A low balustrade overlooking desert. Large 
pillars round court — a seat by pillar L. 2. 
Large globe of the world by seat. 

A very distant band playing ^'Tipperary'' 
as the curtain rises. Discovered: Bellona 
standing by balustrade ^ wounded arm in sling 
—^Albion on seat with Columbia — Indiana 
and Astra grouped round. Rezia standing 
moodily gazing across the desert R. 2, Savias 
sitting near him. Florus L. S, facing stage, 
Janoah standing R. Jj watching the others. 

BELLONA 

{Gazing towards horizon) My people, my poor 
people! Ah God! That such things should be! 
My heart aches for their sorrows — what have they 
not suffered! And there is yet more to come. 
{Leans over balustrade) My country is destitute — 
ruined — but — we — fight still! {Drawing himself 
up proudly.) 

ALBION 

{Rising and going up to Bellona with both 
hands outstretched) Courage, brother! We shall 



ACT II 21 

not cease fighting until you have gained your rights 
— until your country is restored, yea, more than re- 
stored — your people comforted. Our hands are 
open to your people and our land shall be a haven 
and a refuge until you return unto your own. Your 
rights are our rights — ^your Honor is our honor. 

BELLONA 

{Accepting Albion's hands) Albion, indeed I 
appreciate your help and sympathy — but the tears 
and sorrows of my innocent people are overwhelm- 
ing. 

FLOKUS 

You, Bellona, are the greatest hero of these times 
— great in every sense of the word — you and your 
people have saved the world — is it not so? {Turn- 
ing to the others.) 

ALL. 

Indeed, yes. The whole world! 

ALBION 

More than true. The Day came — we were not 
ready — and you held the great machine of war at 
bay and fought, gaining time for us — working al- 
most a miracle — upsetting the plans and pride of 
the Frankinstein. And with your people dying as 
martyrs — you still fought on. You have our love, 
our admiration and our eternal gratitude and there 
is nothing we can do in return too great. 



22 WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 

Rezia 

{Angrily and pointing away across the desert) 
See those flames? They shall pay for this! But 
we, brothers, are to blame because we were not 
ready — duped by lies and deceived by false friendship 
— fools! fools all oi us — with one exception {bow- 
ing gracefully to Bellona). Sire, you have suf- 
fered, you have paid the price — 'tis for us to hold 
out hands of help^ sympathy and everlasting grati- 
tude. 

{Enter Frankinstein, victory in every line of 
face and figure.) 

ALL 

You intrude! Why dost thou come? 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Laughing) You fear me? 

{All place their hands on their swords threaten- 
ingly.) 

ALBION 

{Stepping forward) Take back that word! 

FRANKINSTEIN 

Have patience! Wait! You must prove the 
word is wrongly used and then I will retract. 
{Aside) I can safely promise for it will be impossi- 
ble to prove — besides, what is a promise! {Turn- 
ing to them again) Have you not had enough? Ac- 
knowledge that you are beaten. 'Tis all I ask! 
{To Bellona) You at least are ruined and lost! 



ACT II 23 



BELLONA 



{With emphasis and looking at him straightly) 
I, at least, have not lost my soul! 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{With an angry start) Your soul? Bah! If 
there is nothing left to you but your soul — why 
what is that worth? {Scornfully.) 

BELLONA 

You can hardly understand, having sold yours. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Blandly) You have been misinformed; when all 
is finished you will see how high and noble has been 
my aim. {Turning to all) God is with me. He 
is on our side. Why fight against us? We are 
too strong for you. {To Florus) You, untrained 
and weakened by long years of selfish womanhood 
and frivolous living — what can you do against my 
perfect machine? 

FLORUS 

Alas ! We are not so strong as we should be. In 
numbers having deteriorated, but — we have a will 
and a spirit unconquerable and with these our good 
friends {bowing to the others) we may prove a 
harder task to manage than you expect. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

Not so! You underestimate my strength and 
power. {Turning to Rezia) And you — bearlike 



24 WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 

— clumsy and slow — against us with our marvelous 
speed and trained manoeuvring — you have no 
chance. 

REZIA 

{Speaking rather slowly) There is a fable telling 
of a race between a hare and a tortoise. {With 
hand on sword) Your insults now I let pass for 
what they are worth — so much air. Time will tell. 
There is but one step from triumph to ruin. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Smiling and shrugging his shoulders) I have no 
fear of my ultimate triumph. {Then turning an- 
grily to Albion) You, vile enemy, with your con- 
temptible little army, what did you expect to ac- 
complish? We shall brush you aside as flies! 

ALBION 

{Very coolly and quietly) We expect each one of 
us to do his duty — great expectations — yes, but they 
will be fully realized. We fight for Right for our 
country and for God. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Scowling) You blundered in where you were 
not wanted — could not you wait until your turn 
came? But it matters not, for soon your country 
will be as destitute as Bellon^'s. {Aside) If I could 
have crushed Florus first and then Albion, it would 
have been easier! {Sits down by globe and looks at 
it lovingly.) 



ACT II 25 



COLUMBIA 



{Placing arm around Albion affectionately) Wc 
are with you and shall give to you our best. 



INDIANA 



{Kneeling and taking Albion's hand) You have 
our respect, our love and most loyal service. 



ASTRA 



{Putting his hand on Albion's shoulder) To the 
end we stand together and in our united strength 
we shall win victory. 

ALBION 

{Returning their affectionate demonstrations and 
raising Indiana with a friendly hand) Your words 
give me fresh strength and courage; my love and 
gratitude you have. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Fingering globe lovingly) This will soon be 
mine — all mine! Ah! {Enter messenger — salutes 
to Frankinstein.) 

MESSENGER 

Sire! Two more churches destroyed — many 
women and children killed — also another ship sunk 
— several fishing vessels blown up. 



26 WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 



FRANKINSTEIN 



{Turning and smiling) Ah! 'Tis good news! 
And proof of my strength and power. I must be- 
stow more iron crosses on these my good servants 
for their most excellent work. {Exit Messenger.) 



REZIA 

An iron cross! Methinks that a wooden one 
with spikes is what they need ! Barbarians that they 
are! 



FLORUS 



With every innocent life thus cruelly destroyed 
— the Christ is crucified anew. God have pity! 



FRANKINSTEIN 

{Aside) Our troops must achieve victory. What 
else matters? {Turning to all) It is not finished! 
There is much more to come. I give you warning 
— you will pray to me for Peace at any terms be- 
fore many days have passed. Eagles do not bring 
forth pigeons! 'Tis war to the Death! Thanks 
be to God! 

ALBION 

Having drawn the sword for a just and worthy 
cause, we cannot lay down the sword until by the 
vindication of that cause Peace is assured. {Turn- 
ing to all) Friends — for us 'tis — either to die or 
conquer ? 



ACT II 27 



REZIA 



Either to die — or conquer! Let justice be done 
-though the heavens should fall in! 



ALL 

{Joining hands) We are united — we are fighting 
for justice — for freedom, for Peace and for our 
women and children. Right shall conquer Might. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Smiling in calm self-confidence) And / am fight- 
ing for Power and Might. We'll see {with em- 
phasis) which is the stronger. Might is Right. 
{Turns and exits slowly and repeating emphatic- 
ally) Might is Right. {Exits.) 

{All watch him — on each face there is deter?ni- 
nation but without the confidence — a grim deter- 
mination and a holding together.) 

CURTAIN 



ACT III 

Scene. Same as Scene 2. Night time. Stage al- 
most dark. A pale light where the globe of 
the world is. Enter Frankinstein^ followed 
by War. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Walking up to globe and then turning to War) 
Is all well? 

war 

All Is well. The harvest Is great and my hands 
are full. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

Return to your duties. Do not cease in your 
work of destruction, although 'tis night time. 
When day breaks I will come and review the re- 
sults of your labour. Go! {Exit War.) 

FRANKINSTEIN sits down on seat — looks at globe, 
touches it lingeringly — it seems to glow with a lurid 
flame as he touches it — it grows darker — a distant 
bell tolls. He leans back against the pillar — sud- 
denly a misty light appears in corner R. U. — dimly 
two figures are seen and the broken cross with 
Peace lying — Frankinstein gazes in a dreamy 
manner at the indistinct group. 
28 



ACT III 29 

FIRST SPIRIT 



Peace is dying. 



SECOND SPIRIT 

Ah, what can we do? 

FIRST SPIRIT 

(Sadly) Nothing, I fear. 

SECOND SPIRIT 

Cannot we plead with him who holds the torch 
to the fires of strife? 

FIRST SPIRIT 

Pleadings will have no avail. What cares he 
for the passing aw^ay of Peace ? He who has caused 
the death of thousands of women and children? 

SECOND SPIRIT 

Perchance I can touch his heart. Now it is night 
time, surely his desires and passions are dormant — I 
will try. 

FIRST SPIRIT 

{Weeping) He is adamant. One aim and object 
only — worldly power — but draw near and see if 
thou can'st penetrate his armour of self sufficiency. 

SECOND SPIRIT 

{Drawing near to Frankinstein^ who stares at 
her in a puzzled way) Have you not had your fill 



30 WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 

of war and bloodshed? {Pleadingly) Will you not 
stay your hand and make this turmoil cease? {Holds 
up her hand) Listen — do you hear the cry of the 
children above the roar of guns and deafening noise 
of bombs? 

FRANKINSTEIN 

The cry of the children is but one of the essen- 
tials of war. 

SECOND SPIRIT 

Oh, is your heart so hard that you do not feel 
the misery you are causing? Peace lies dying — dy- 
ing — you can, if you will — save her. {Waits with 
drawn breath for his answer.) 

FRANKINSTEIN 

I cannot save her. I do not wish her saved until 
my goal is reached. 

SECOND SPIRIT 

What is your goal? Is it worth the sacrifice 
of so many lives? 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Thoughtfully) My goal is the world — see — 
{taking hold of globe) I already hold it in my 
hands. {Emphatically and with strength) It shall 
be under my feet when I have finished. 

SECOND SPIRIT 

{Bitterly) You are indeed laying up for your- 
self treasure on earth. Does Heaven or God come 
into your calculation? 



ACT III 31 

FRANKINSTEIN 

God is with me. It is with His help that I shall 
conquer. 

SECOND SPIRIT 

God sacrificed His own son to save the world — 
and now is He going to hand it over to you to de- 
stroy ? 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Puzzled) I shall not destroy it; I shall only 
conquer it. 

SECOND SPIRIT 

You are destroying it. Can you not see your 
handiwork — destruction and death — bloodshed and 
misery ? 

FRANKINSTEIN 

I am not to blame for the death and misery. It 
is the world's own fault that she suffers. I have 
strength^ power and kultur and yet {impatiently) 
she will not admit my omnipotence — she will not 
acknowledge me absolute monarch. She rises 
against me and pits her feeble strength against 
mine and, like a moth fluttering round a candle, 
she burns herself. {Blandly) The world is stu- 
pidly — blindly destroying herself in the flame of 
my vital strength and power. 

SECOND SPIRIT 

Many fluttering wings sometimes put out the 
candle flame. 



32 WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 

FRANKINSTEIN 

I shall not go out until I have won success. 

SECOND SPIRIT 

{Passionately) Oh, it is not worth it — it is not 
worth it. To win success at so great a cost — is low 
failure. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{With a lauffh) To win success is failure — how 
can that be? 

SECOND SPIRIT 

Your aim, you say, is to gain the world — if in so 
doing you lose your own soul — is that success? If 
in so doing you destroy life after life, killing and 
cutting your way ruthlessly through to reach your 
goal — is that success? 

FRANKINSTEIN 

According to my reasoning- — the harder the way 
— the greater the success. 

SECOND SPIRIT 

{Aside) Oh, how can I reach him? Has he no 
divine spark of intelligence — is it all reason without 
soul — matter without spirit that I have to plead 
with? {Turning to Frankinstein) Oh, give up 
your ambition — send War away and give Peace 
life once more. 



ACT III 33 

FRANKINSTEIN 

Is it possible {sarcastically) that you are asking 
me to give up the aim and object of my whole life, 
merely to bring Peace back to reign over the world ? 

SECOND SPIRIT 

Am I asking too much? Look round you; see 
what awful desolation War has caused and what 
have you gained by it? 

FRANKINSTEIN 

If I gave up now — what would the world think 
of me and how would my people judge me — I who 
promised them so much ? 

SECOND SPIRIT 

Why should you consider the value of a promise 
— you have already violated your word. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

Ah, that was different. The treaty to which you 
refer, 'twas against my interests to hold — in fact, 
the only obvious course was to destroy it in order 
to keep my promise of victory to my people. 

SECOND SPIRIT 

But you have failed — cannot you see that defeat 
lies before you? 



34 WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 



FRANKINSTEIN 



{Angrily) Defeated? Never! It is impossible. 
It is only a question of time. 



SECOND SPIRIT 

{Very bitterly) And of a few thousand more lives* 
{Sternly) Is it nothing to you that the whole 
world struggles in agony? Is it nothing to you 
that the cry of innocent children and weary heart- 
broken women rises without ceasing to the Heavens? 
Is it nothing to you that your ways and methods 
of warfare are diabolical and utterly contrary to all 
the national laws of the world ? 

FRANKINSTEIN 

As long as Victory is achieved by me, what does 
all that matter? They are merely paths leading to 
the end and that end will be triumph for me. 

SECOND SPIRIT 

( Turning away and hiding her face in her hands) 
Ah, I can do nothing — nothing. {Glides away 
towards R. U. Darkness falls over the entire stage, 
except a pale light where Frankinstein sits — he 
stares towards R. U.j sees nothing. Slowly the 
darkness lifts.) 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Slowly) It must have been a dream — and yet 
{looks round fearfully) — I surely heard voices — 



ACT III 35 

{it slowly gets lighter — day is breaking; again 
Frankinstein gazes towards R. U. — nothing is there; 
he springs up and shakes off his fear) . Bah ! — 'twas 
but a dream, gone with the light of day. All is 
well — Victory lies before me, but {with a sinister 
smile) I must show my powers by greater horrors 
and bring my enemies to their knees {walks towards 
L. 2.). I will yet strike deep and break proud 
Albion's heart, and when I succeed there will be 
great rejoicing — great rejoicing {exit smiling). 

CURTAIN 



ACT IV 

A period of two years is supposed to elapse 
between Acts III and IV. 

Italy should be represented in the last scene, 
with any other nation that enters the war to- 
wards the end. 

Scene. Same as Scene i. 

Enter Frankinstein — has lost his proud hear- 
ing — looks gloomy and afraid — followed closely 
by War. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

What means this ? My people are complaining — 
my soldiers losing and dying in thousands. My in- 
vincible machine is being turned back by Albion's 
contemptible little army and the soldiers of Florus 
are fighting with hateful bravery and even 
Rezia — though slow^ seems horribly sure!. {Looks 
round as if scared of shadows) I am laughed at, 
jeered at and though destruction and bloodshed have 
gone before me, still they show no fear. Still they 
hold together! My legions of spies have failed to 
make discord — all the world dares to judge and 
condemn me, the omnipotent! {Turning wildly to 
War) Why is it? You have not done enough! 
{Hesitates) And yet — the horrors I have contrived 
36 



ACT IV 37 

have almost overwhelmed even me. What fresh 
deeds can I discover to awe the world? Why is it 
not mine? And why are the nations not shaking in 
fear of me? {Slowly and in fear considering) Can 
there be some force in the world stronger than 
Might? Is there anything more powerful than 
hate ? 

VOICE 

Right is stronger than Might! Love is more 
powerful than Hate! 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{With a start and shrinking in horror) Ah! 
What was — that? {Enter Priest — ragged and 
worn but strong.) 

PRIEST 

{Sternly) Right is stronger than Might — Love is 
more powerful than Hate! What have you done 
to God's people and His sacred buildings? What 
horrible desecration have you performed in the name 
of God? 

FRANKINSTEIN 

I am not to blame! They were obstinate and 
refused to do me homage. I had to strike fear into 
their hearts — it was the only way. 



PRIEST 

Coward! Your excuses but implicate you more 
deeply. Are you not brave enough to confess that 



38 WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 

you are to blame? How dare you make yourself 
equal to God and as His representative tear down 
His buildings and confiscate His treasures! What 
you will have to answer for in the last great tribunal 
will be more than mortal man can face. The con- 
sequences of your deeds will reach far beyond your 
earthly life. Repent and, if you can, undo one- 
millionth part of all the evil you have wrought! 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Angrily) Away from me! Leave me in Peace! 
{Blandly) Your intellect is limited, your ideas me- 
diaeval! I am kultured and advanced and act ac- 
cordingly. You cannot understand ! 

PRIEST 

{Making the sign of the cross from which 
Frankinstein shrinks and War draws cm)ay and 
hides his face) God save the world and purge it 
through its awful tribulation! {Exits.) 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{To War) Go, spread the reports that I did 
not start this war. It was forced on me ! I fought 
in self defence and for my country. Let Justice 
judge and prove me innocent! Quick! Away! 
{Exit War.) 

{Enter Woman— ragged, torn and weary with a 
baby ) . 

FRANKINSTEIN 

(Starts and stares at her) Who — who are — you? 



ACT IV 39 

WOMAN 

{Drawing near and pointing tragically) Where 
are our sons? You commanded us to wed — to give 
men to you — what have j^ou done with them? I 
see blood! blood! blood! I see corpses covering 
fields, ditches and plains — and oh ! the horror of it ! 
We have no food and our children are gone — de- 
molished by your diabolical machine. 



FRANKINSTEIN 

{Wrapping his cloak round him and preparing to 
slink away) What are a few lives lost in a great 
cause? I cannot help it! 

WOMAN 

Stay ! You shall hear my words and they shall be 
as a blot on your memory for ever ! We have worked 
for you — slaved for you — bred sons for you — 
starved for you ! What have you done for us ? You 
took our sons — our children — our husbands — you 
talked of glory — of victory — of prizes — Iron Crosses 
are the only prizes you give — Iron Crosses and 
broken hearts — spoilt lives and the eternal hatred of 
a justly indignant w^orld. Our country is ruined 
— our trade spoilt — our heritage — humiliation. You, 
who were first among all the nations in Art, in 
Science, in Music — admired and respected — you 
have thrown away your birthright — sold your soul 
— for what? {Weeps and clasping her baby, turns 
to go) Most miserable man! And we — we women 
have to pay the price! {Exits, weeping.) 



40 WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 

FRANKINSTEIN 

God! What is this? Why have I not won? 
(Hurriedly and desperately) There is still time! 
What matters it a few lives lost if the ultimate 
gain is Victory and Conquest for me ! I must again 
demand help from my God. It is decreed that we 
shall win. This is merely a delay — a test of my 
courage. Where is my God? {Enter War.) 

WAR 

{Striding forward) You called me? 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Impatiently) I called on God to help me — not 
you. Stand aside and await my commands. 

WAR 

{Throwing aside his cloak and revealing himself 
as the Devil) I — / am thy God! 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Starting back with a cry of horror and awful 
fright) Thou! Thou — art my — God? Avaunt! 
Evil one! I know you not! 

WAR 

{Bowing and smiling) I am the God to whom 
thou hast prayed — implored help from — worked 
with. From your cradle you have held the thought 



ACT IV 41 

of hate in your heart — The Great God Almighty — 
the God of Love — is He also the God of Hate, 
think you? You have worked and lived for the 
Day when you could crush your enemies and reign 
supreme, feared by all. Your spies are spread over 
all the world with commands to sow discord — cause 
quarrels to result in war. These are the ways of 
the Devil — they are not the ways of God. You 
seem to have amalgamated the two personalities^ 
creating a god of your own imaging and with a 
heart full of hatred, calling on Him to help you 
to do evil deeds. The God of the Christians is on 
the side of the opprest and afflicted — He is on the 
side of truth and with those who hold honor and 
love above lies, hatred and death. / — / am your 
God in deed and in truth (or lies!). What now 
axe your commands? 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Terror struck) Leave me^ — I — will — call Peace 
- — I have finished with thee — Begone! 

WAR 

Not so ! It will not be so easy to get rid of me ! 
You have held me too close for so long — the hopes 
of your life time, you centered in me. Now I stay. 
And Peace, whom you drove from you, cannot re- 
turn while I am with you. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Getting desperate and making about to depart) 
Then, I shall leave you — and call Peace to me ! 



42 WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 

WAR 

{Smiling scornfully) Not so! Wherever you 
go — I go also. We are inseparable. True Peace 
can never return to you. {Placing his hand firmly 
on Frankinstein's shoulder) Come! You have 
made me such a powerful factor in your life that 
I have become too strong for you to control. I 
am your master now! 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Shuddering and drawing from him) At least 
my enemies are also under your power! 

WAR 

Alas! No. When we go, we shall leave Peace 
behind us — it is so decreed. Come! Whither 
shall we go together? (Frankinstein groans and 
handles his sword) Stay your hand, you can do no 
further harm with your sword. {Sound of "Tip- 
perary" in distance — drawing nearer — they both lis- 
ten.) 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Wrapping his cloak round him and drawing to 
one side as if he wanted to hide.) Ah! That cursed 
tune ! 

{Enter JusTiciA carrying large scales — walks 
to center of stage in front of rock — places scales 
in front of him — from all the different entrances 
come the Nations — form a semi-circle round back 
of stage — each side of Justicia. 



ACT IV 43 



FRANKINSTEIN 

(Aside) I Stand alone! Where are my friends? 
{Stepping forward and appealing to JySTiciA) I 
demand Justice! 

JUSTICIA 

Justice^ you shall have. 

FLOKUS 

{Stepping a little way forward) He has destroyed 
Peace and brought War to reign over the whole 
v/orld. 

JUSTICIA 

{To Frankinstein) What is your answer to 
this accusation? 

frankinstein 

I neither started the War nor did I wish for it. 
If I had been acknowledged lord of all, I would 
have reigned in Peace. 



JUSTICIA 

Your very words condemn you. 

BELLONA 

{Stepping forward) He has killed old men and 
children and demolished churches and committed 
sacrilege, violating his w^ord and promise by break- 
ing Treaties. 



44 WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 

JUSTICIA 

And to this, your reply? 

FRANKINSTEIN 

They defied me — ME! They were obstructing 
my way — I had to put fear into my enemies' hearts 
in order to conquer. I was not to blame. As to 
Treaties — what are they but paper! In a time like 
this nothing counts but strength and power. 

JUSTICIA 

Your excuses are futile and your reasoning con- 
tradictory. 

ALBION 

He attacked and destroyed unfortified villages — 
causing the death of many innocent people. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

I had to show my people my power and my 
strength to keep their respect and confidence. It 
was the only way. 

REZIA 

He fired on Red Cross wagons and hospitals. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

They got in the way — how could I help that? 



ACT IV 45 

JANOAH 

He caused the destruction of defenceless vessels 
and— without warning — the death of innocent 
women and children. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

Why did they not keep out of the War Zone? 

JUSTICIA 

Was there any limit to your War Zone? Did 
it not extend somewhat over the legitimate extent 
of the warring nations on sea? 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Angrily) Why should there be a limit? 

JUSTICIA 

{Smiling) Your War Zone then had no limit. 
Each answer you make but implicates you deeper 
in guilt. 

SAVIAS 

He has violated all laws of War — his only the- 
ory being to strike terror at any cost. And it has 
cost him — his honour and the world, thousands of 
innocent lives. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Aside) Honour! That word again! Does 
Honour count? 



46 WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 

JUSTICIA 

Your answer to these accusations ? 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{Folding his arms and facing them boldly) I am 
Innocent. 

JUSTICIA 

{To all) The Verdict? 

ALL 

Guilty. 

FRANKINSTEIN 

{With horror) Ah! 

JUSTICIA 

I endorse the verdict — yet I will test you still fur- 
ther — {Takes out of scales several cubes each 
marked with a different virtue) Here is Honour — 
{Holding up cube marked Honour) I will place it 
on one scale while you stand on the other. 'Tis said 
that you have no honour. {Places cube on one scale 
and points to the other — Frankinstein proudly 
steps on. The scale holding Honour remains on 
ground — that holding Frankinstein rises slowly 
from the ground.) 

ALL 

Ah! See — he is surely wanting in honour! 
(Frankinstein scowls at Justicia, who lets down 
the scales.) 



ACT IV 47 

JUSTICIA 

I will now place Truth on and see if you can bal- 
ance with that. {Takes Honour from scale and 
puts on cube marked Truth — slowly the side with 
Frankinstein rises — all watch intently.) 

FRANKINSTEIN 

The scales are false — this is judgment and no 
mercy ! 

JUSTICIA 

Did you show mercy to even the children and 
women of your enemies? With what mercy you 
mete — it shall be meted to you again. {Lets down 
the scales and removes Truth) There is yet one vir- 
tue which, if you have it, may redeem many vices. I 
will place Love which covers a multitude of sins — 
perchance you possess some. {Places Love on scales.) 

FLOKUS 

Can a nation whose motive word is 'Hate,' also 
interpret the value of 'Love' ? ( This time Frank- 
instein rises higher still. ) 



JUSTICIA 

{Letting down the scales) It is enough. Weighed 
in the balance, you are in deed and in truth— found 
wanting. {Turning to the others) Brothers, in or- 
der to preserve Universal Peace, we must banish 
the Spirit of Militarism {pointing to Frankin- 



48 WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 

stein) from our midst. War is exposed before us 
in its real form — {pointing to War) as the Devil 
— the embodiment of the military spirit. No longer 
will we rule our world with Might and Force, but 
with that which is stronger than Might — {Speaking 
in ringing voice) Right is stronger than Might — 
Love is more powerful than Hate. And with Right 
and Justice shall we rule our world. {Turning to 
Frankinstein ) Go. Rid the world of your pres- 
ence and let War and Discord cease to be. 

REZIA 

Brother, he should receive punishment. 

JUSTICIA 

There is no such thing as Punishment in the laws 
of the Universal world of Right and Wrong. As a 
man sows, that shall he reap. In this life has he 
sown seeds and verily he will reap what he has 
sown. Every thought of Hate — every act of hatred 
will bring forth a train of consequences, carried 
through this life into many^ many others. Leave 
him to the Almighty Power who made the laws — 
to Him alone shall he answer for the stupendous 
wrong he has done. {To Frankinstein) Go. 

WAR 

{Pointing away into distance) Come — we have 
lost. (Frankinstein hesitates — seems about to 
speak, then turns and with bowed head slinks out 
of sight, followed by War — as they disappear, from 



ACT IV 49 

another entrance enters the New Germany in the 
form of a luoman — the others salute her and make 
room for her in the circle — softly and far away is 
heard the German National anthem — like an echo 
it dies away as Justicia steps back and they all di- 
vidcj leaving rock clear in center — a bright light 
shows behind rock — all rest their hands on each oth- 
er s shoulders J showing unity of purpose.) 



ALL 

With Right and Justice shall we rule the world 
and so keep the Universal Peace. 



JUSTICIA 

{The light behind rock growing brighter) See, 
Brothers, Peace is rising! {Orchestra plays softly 
— ''I know that my Redeemer liveth." The form 
of Peace is seen above the rock — she steps up and 
stands on summit in a bright light — all place their 
hands on swords — there is a loud cheer — Peace looks 
down on the Nations and smiles and as she smiles all 
together draw their swords and wave them with a 
flourish towards her and each sword unfolds itself 
as a flag J each Nation waving its own flag — music 
dissolves into the National anthems blended and 
then into "Tipperary" — all sing 

It's a long, long war that we have fought through 

And the Price was high to pay. 
Through awful tribulations we've struggled. 

But at last we've won the Way. 



50 WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 

It's a long, long list of noble heroes 

Who have gladly died to gain 
Victory for the Nations who have conquered 

And brought Eternal Peace to reign. 

CURTAIN 



